Arthrobotrys yunnanensis sp. nov., the fourth anamorph of Orbilia auricolor

Arthrobotrys yunnanensis sp. nov., the fourth anamorph of Orbilia auricolor MingHe Mo, XiaoWei Huang, Wei Zhou, Ying Huang, Yu E Hao and KeQin Zhang * Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, Yunnan Province, PR China Mo, M.H., Huang, X.W., Zhou, W., Huang, Y., Hao, Y.E. and Zhang, K.Q. (2005). Arthrobotrys yunnanensis sp. nov., the fourth anamorph of Orbilia auricolor. Fungal Diversity 18: 107-115. A new species of predacious fungi, Arthrobotrys yunnanensis, is described and illustrated as the fourth anamorph of Orbilia auricolor. The fungus produces simple, erect conidiophores with several short apical denticles. The conidia are nonseptate or occasionally uniseptate, elongate ellipsoid-cylindrical or slightly clavate. In aged cultures it forms spherical to ellipsoidal chlamydospores. In the presence of nematodes, the fungus forms three-dimensional adhesive networks. In this paper the known anamorphs connected to the genus Orbilia also are summarized. Key words: anamorph-teleomorph connection, Arthrobotrys, Orbilia, predacious fungi. Introduction Nematophagous fungi have been the subject of research over several decades in fundamental studies of their ecology, distribution and systematics, and as potential biological control agents of nematode pathogens of plants and animals (Li et al., 2002; Liu and Zhang, 2003; Dong et al., 2004). The predacious hyphomycetes in Arthrobotrys Corda and related genera, some with teleomorphs in Orbilia Fr. (Ascomycota, Orbiliaceae), destroy nematodes using several kinds of trapping devices: stalker and sessile adhesive knobs, two- or three-dimensional adhesive nets, and constricting and non-constricting hyphal rings (Scholler et al., 1999). The known anamorphs of Orbilia include both predacious and non-predacious fungi (Table 1). The predacious forms fall into the genera Arthrobotrys Corda (Pfister, 1994; Pfister and Liftik, 1995), Monacrosporium Oudem. (Rubner, 1996; Liu et al., 2002). Apparently nonpredacious anamorphs of Orbilia include Anguillospora Ingold (Webster and * Corresponding author: Keqin Zhang; e-mail: kqzhang1@yahoo.com.cn 107

Table 1. Anamorphs-teleomorph connection the genus Orbilia. Teleomohps Anamorphs References O. auricolor 1 * A. cladodes Drechsler var. macroides Pfister and Liftik, 1995 Drechsler O. auricolor 2 * A. oligospora Fresen. Pfister and Liftik, 1995 O. auricolor 3 * M. psychrophilum (Drechsler) Cooke Rubner, 1996 O. auricolor 4 * A. yunnanensis M.H. Mo & K.Q. Zhang This paper O. fimicola * A. superba Corda Pfister, 1994 O. sp. * A. dactyloides Drechsler Zachariah, 1983 O. sp. * M. doedycoides (Drechsler) Cooke & Pfister, 1997 Dickinson O. cunninghamii * M. parvicolle (Drechsler) Cooke & Dickinson Liu et al., 2002 O. fimicoloides D. cf. oxyspora (Sacc. & Marchal) Matsush. Webster et al., 1998 O. alnea D. sp. Pfister, 1997 O. sp. D. rhopalota Drechsler Thakur and Zachariah, 1989 O. delicatula Dicranidion sp. Pfister, 1997 O. junci Dwayaangam junci Kohlm. Kohlmeyer et al., 1998 O. luteorubella Helicoön sessile Margon Pfister, 1997 O. luteorubella Anguillospora sp. Pfister, 1997 O. sp. Anguillospora rosea J. Webster & Descals Webster and Descals, 1979; Wesber, 1992; Pfister, 1997 O. piloboloides Idriella sp. Haines and Egger, 1982 O. trinacriifera Trinacrium sp. Matsushima, 1995 O. xanthostigma Dicranidion sp. Berthet, 1964; Korf, 1992; Pfister, 1997 Note: The predacious anamorphs were indicated by an asterisk (*) and the others were nonpredacious species, for which no predacious organs or other evidence of nematode predation is known. Descals, 1979; Pfister, 1997), Dactylella Grove (Thakur and Zachariah, 1989; Webster et al., 1998), Dicranidion Harkn. (Berthet, 1964; Korf, 1992), Dwayaangam Subram. (Kohlmeyer et al., 1998), Helicoön Morgan (Pfister, 1997), Idriella P.E. Nelson & S. Wilh. (Haines and Egger, 1982) and Trinacrium Riess. (Matsushima, 1995). While surveying the predacious fungi, we collected wet soil samples from Mt Xiaobailong, Yiliang, Yunnan, China on 15 August 2003. Subsamples of 2-5 g were spread on Corn Meal Agar (CMA) plates and stored at room temperature (about 20-28ºC). After incubation for 20 days, apothecia of an Orbilia were observed on the soil granules, and later also on other areas of the plates. For culture isolation, several fresh apothecia were attached to the lids of Petri dishes of CMA with medicated petroleum jelly. Ascospores were projected on the agar after 2-4 days and blocks with germinating ascospores were transferred into other CMA plates after germ tubes developed. Four 108

isolates were obtained from the deposited ascospores of four separate apothecia. For anamorph identification, the cultures were inoculated on CMA and incubated at 28ºC for 14-30 days and the taxonomic characters were measured and determined. To induce trap formation, a 2 cm 2 piece of agar in the center of the plate was removed from a 7-day old culture to create an open space. About 200 nematodes (Panagrellus redivivus) were added the free space after the mycelia emerged from the cut margin. Microscopic photographs of anamorph and teleomorph were taken from fresh living material mounted in water using an Olympus BX51 microscope. On CMA medium, the discharged ascospores germinated quickly and grew well. Four anamorph isolates were morphologically identical and can be referred to the genus Arthrobotrys Corda. Three morphologically distinct species of predacious anamorphs from the genera Arthrobotrys and Monacrosporium have been reported for a single species of Orbilia, O. auricolor (Berk. & Br.) Sacc., namely A. oligospora Fresen. (Pfister and Liftik, 1995), A. cladodes Drechsler var. macroides Drechsler (Pfister and Liftik, 1995) and M. psychrophilum Drechsler (Rubner, 1996). Morphologically, O. auricolor is a difficult species complex (Webster et al., 1998). Seven predacious fungi have been reported as anamorphs of Orbilia (Table 1); the new species A. yunnanensis reported here represents an eighth, and the fourth known anamorph of O. auricolor. Arthrobotrys yunnanensis M.H. Mo & K.Q. Zhang, sp. nov. (Figs. 1-10) Etymology: The species epithet refers to the collection site of the species. Coloniae in CMA effusae, ad 6 cm diam. post 5 dies 28 ºC. Mycelium sparsum, effusum, hyalinum, septatum, romosum, 2-4 µm laum. Conidiophora hyalina, simplicia, erecta, septata, non ramosa, plerumque 60-200 µm alta, basi 2-5 µm crassa, apice 1.5-2.4 µm crasso, efferenti 1-5 conidia sola de conidiogenis loci in perspicuis dendriculis in apicie aut prope apicem. Conidia hyalina, elongato ellipsoideo-cylindrica vel clavata, saepe non-septata, aliquanto uniseptata, 17.5-32.5 2.75-7.5 µm (x = 22.57 5.5 µm). Reticula tenacia quae vermiculos nematodeos capiunt evolventibus. Chlamydosporae globosae vel ellipsoideae, catenulatae. Colonies growing rapidly on CMA medium, attaining 6 cm diam. in 5 days at 28ºC and mycelia spreading at the rate of 0.5 cm per 24 hours, conidiophores and conidia are produced after 4 days. Mycelium scanty, spreading, vegetative hyphae hyaline, septate and branched, mostly 2-4 µm wide. Conidiophores colorless, erect, simple, septate, frequently 60 to 200 µm high, 2 to 5 µm wide at the base and 1.5 to 2.4 µm at the tip, producing 1-5 conidia singly from conidiogenous loci on conspicuous denticles at and near the apex (Figs. 1-3). Conidia colorless, elongate ellipsoid-cylindrical (Figs. 4-5) or slightly clavate (Fig. 6), broadly rounded at the tip, rounded truncate at the narrowed base, sometimes constricted gradually at the distal part of conidia 109

Figs. 1-10. Arthrobotrys yunnanensis sp. nov. (from holotype: HT1.00593). 1, 2. Conidiophores with short denticles. 3. An unmature conidium attached to a conidiophore. 4-6. Elongated ellipsoid-cylindrical or slightly clavate conidia. 7. Three-dimensional adhesive networks. 8. Trapped nematode in a three-dimensional adhesive networks. 9, 10. Spherical to ellipsoidal chlamydospores. Bars: 1, 4-7, 9, 10 = 10 µm; 2, 3, 8 = 20 µm. 110

(Fig. 4), usually nonseptate (Figs. 4, 6), occasional uniseptate (<5%) at the center (Fig. 5), 17.5-32.5 2.75-7.5 µm (x = 22.57 5.5 µm). Chlamydospores spherical to ellipsoidal, intercalary (Figs. 9-10). Trapping nematodes by three-dimensional adhesive networks (Figs. 7-8). Habitat: Soil. Known distribution: Yunnan, China. Material examined: CHINA, Yunnan Province, Yiliang County, Mount Xiaobailong, 15 August 2003 (holotype designated here, HT1.00593, and a living culture, YMF1.00593, are deposited in the Herbarium of Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources, Yunnan University). Teleomorph: Orbilia auricolor. Orbilia auricolor (Figs. 11-16) Apothecia superficial, sessile, pale cream. Disc 0.3-0.8 mm diam., smooth, plane, margin even. Ectal excipulum composed from base to margin of globose or subglobose cells, 6-12 µm diam., with thin or slightly thickened walls (Figs. 11, 16). Asci cylindric-clavate, tapered and often forked at the base, apex rounded or truncate-rounded, 8-spored, 30-45 3.5-5 µm in living state (Figs. 13-14). Ascospores banana-shaped or narrowly clavate, medium curved, one end narrower, broadest above and slightly trapped to the rounded proximal end, non-septate, containing an elongate tear-shaped spore body at the broader end, 9 ca. 1.4 µm when shooting from asci and still in living state (Fig. 12). Paraphyses hyaline, cylindric-clavate, often branched below, septate in the lower part, 1.5-2 µm diam., slightly expanded to 2.5-3.5 µm at the apex, here not encrusted (Fig. 15). Material examined: CHINA, Yunnan Province, Yiliang County, Mount Xiaobailong, 10 September 2003, Herbarium of Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources, Yunnan University (Mo MH O 002). The teleomorph clearly belongs in the O. auricolor complex and matches well with O. auricolor as described by Spooner (1987), but differs from his specimens in somewhat shorter ascospores with less tapering bases, and in the absence of encrustation on the paraphyses. The teleomorphic characters do not differ from Pfister s three specimens: O. fimicola (HB 5441, the teleomorph of A. superba), O. auricolor (HB 5442, the teleomorph of A. oligospora) and O. auricolor (HB 5443, the teleomorph of A. cladodes var. macroides) (Baral, pers. comm.). The teleomorphic characters also do not differ from Rubner s specimen (the teleomorph of M. psychrophilum) though the ascospores are somewhat shorter than that of Rubner s. The genus Arthrobotrys was described by Corda (1839) based on the type A. superba Corda with the distinguishing characteristics of formation of conidia on sterigmata in a whorled pattern at the tip and nodes of the simple, erect and septate conidiophore, with two-celled conidia. Later, species with 111

Figs. 11-16. Orbilia auricolor (from the examined material: Mo MH O 002). 11. Cluster of asci and paraphyses. 12. Eight living ascospores projected from an ascus. 13. Ascospores within the dead ascus. 14. A turgescent living ascus (left) and an empty ascus (right) after projection of spores. 15. Paraphyses. 16. Globose to subglobose ectal excipulum cells. Bars: 11 = 40 µm; 12-14 = 10 µm; 15, 16 = 7 µm. aseptate and multicelled conidia have been included (Schenck et al., 1977). All species produce trapping mechanisms (Oorschot, 1985). Traditionally, for the taxonomy of predatory orbiliaceous fungi, the morphology of the conidia (shape, number and size of cells) and conidiophores (branching, modification of the apex) were preferentially used in delimiting genera. Most of the predatory hyphomycetes that do no form clamps are assigned to three genera, 112

Table 2. Morphological comparison of Arthrobotrys yunnanensis and its similar species. Characters A. anomala A. amerospora A. botryospora A. yunnanensis Conidia shape Cylindric to long ellipsoidal Ellipsoidal Ellipsoidal elongate ellipsoidcylindrical or slightly clavate Conidia size (µm) 13-22 3-7 13-31 10-20 12-20 11-15 17.5-32.5 2.75-7.5 Septation Commonly 0, 1 septum only for germinated conidia Modification of conidiogenous cell Chlamydospore Unknown shape Predacious organ Adhesive branches and networks (x = 23.6 15.9) 0 Commonly 0, occasionally 1 (x = 22.57 5.5) Commonly 0, occasionally 1 Short denticle Short denticle Short denticle Long denticle Spherical to elongateellipsoidal Adhesive networks Spherical to ovoid to elongate Adhesive hyphae and networks Spherical to ellipsoidal Adhesive networks Arthrobotrys, Dactylella and Monacrosporium. In this system, the trapping devices are only taken as a main characteristic for species but not genus identification. Recently, several molecular studies using ITS regions (Liou and Tzean, 1997; Pfister, 1997) and 18S rdna (Ahrén et al., 1998) found that the trapping devices are more important taxonomic characters than other morphological structures in delimiting genera. Ultimately, basing on the phylogenetic analysis using a 1.2 kb long fragment of 18 s rdna, a new genus concept was proposed for predatory anamorphic Orbiliaceae by Scholler et al. (1999) in which the trapping device is the main morphological criterion for the delimitation of the genera. Four genera were defined in their taxonomic system and the species forming adhesive networks were assigned to the genus Arthrobotrys Corda emend. M. Scholler, Hagedorn and A. Rubner. Though their studies promoted the understanding systematics of predacious hyphomycetes, this new generic concept also needs improving. In following their system, it s difficult to class those species with two or more trapping devices. For example, D. arcuata Scheuer & J. Webster, which forms adhesive networks and adhesive knobs, was combined in the genus Gamsylella M. Scholler, Hagedorn & A. Rubner where species form stalked adhesive knobs (Scholler et al., 1999). Here, we tentatively place our new species in Arthrobotrys Corda following the traditional generic concept. Arthrobotrys yunnanensis differs from the three species of Arthrobotrys which form nonseptate, or occasionally uniseptate conidia, A. anomala (Barron 113

and Davidson, 1972), A. amerospora (Schenck et al., 1977) and A. botryospora (Barron, 1979). Arthrobotrys yunnanensis is characterized by predominantly elongate ellipsoid-cylindrical or slightly clavate, non-septate conidia which are borne on distinct and long denticles. Arthrobotrys yunnanensis and A. anomala show similar conidial shape but differ in the size of conidia (Table 2). The conidia of A. anomala form one septum only when detached while the former are still nonseptate when detached. The new species is easy to distinguish from A. botryospora and A. amerospora by their different morphological characters of conidia (shape and size, see Table 2) and conidiophore (modification at apex). Furthermore, unlike A. botryospora, A. yunnanensis is not found to capture nematodes by adhesive hyphae, and unlike A. amerospora, which only produces nonseptate conidia, A. yunnanensis occasionally produces uniseptate conidia. It is clear, as Pfister and Liftik (1995) and Webster et al. (1998) mentioned, that O. auricolor is a species complex. It is difficult to distinguish members of this complex only on the basis of morphological characters of teleomorphs. So isolation and identification of more anamorhs would facilitate the taxonomy of the genus Orbilia. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the projects from Ministry of Science and Technology of PR China (2003CB415102, 2002BA901A21, 2001DEA10009-10), NSFC (30230020, 30460078, 39860006), Department of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province (2000C0012Z, 2003RC03, 2004C0001Q). We are very grateful to Hans-Otto Baral for teleomorph identification, critically revising the manuscript and valuable comments. The authors are also indebted to MeiHua Liu for helping with the Latin. References Ahrén, D., Ursing, B.M. and Tunlid, A. (1998). Phylogeny of predacious fungi based on 18 rdna sequences. FEMS Microbiology Letter 158: 179-184. Barron, G.L. (1979). Nematophagous fungi: a new Arthrobotrys with non-septate conidia. Canadian Journal Botany 57: 1371-1373. Barron, G.L. and Davidson, J.G.N. (1972). Nematophagous hyphomycetes: Arthrobotrys anomala sp. nov. Canadian Journal Botany 50: 1773-1774. Berther, P. (1964). Formes conidiennes de divers discomycetes. Bulletin Societe Mycologique de France 80: 125-149. Corda, A.C.J. (1839). Pracht-Flora europäischer Schimmelbildungen. Lepzig, Germany. Dong, J.Y., Zhao, Z.X., Cai, L., Liu, S.Q., Zhang, H.R., Duan, M. and Zhang, K.Q. (2004). Nematicidal effect of freshwater fungal cultures against the pine-wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Fungal Diversity 15: 125-135. Haines, J.H. and Egger, K.N. (1982). A new species of Orbilia from Canada. Mycotaxon 16: 107-113. 114

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